Into the Fire

“Honey, I’ve had my complete privacy ever since Ace left us. It don’t mean nothin’ to me. Now don’t you dare tell the boy this, but havin’ him here has brought me back to life. He’s a fine young man, loves the Lord like Ace did, strong and powerful love, a real relationship. I always had church, but, honestly, it was dryin’ up for me ‘til Thomas came. And it wasn’t Pastor Brown’s fault neither. It’s the way a congregation kinda falls asleep at the switch sometimes. The pastor keeps tryin’ to rile them up, but they don’t wanta hear it, you know? Then Thomas comes and starts talkin’ to them girls, and, oh, Jarin, you’d a laughed your socks off watchin’ the first time Cassie saw Thomas.” Grams laughed out loud. “She was all dreamy-eyed—it was somethin’ else. Anyway, he just starts talkin’ to these kids about Jesus like it’s everyday conversation, and, well, you see what God’s doin’. You’re the same way, and these young ladies need a young woman to help them through these hard, hard years as they come into themselves as young girls headin’ toward bein’ a woman. Most of ‘em reach it before they’re ready . . . before they ever should. And those young men are the same way. I know Thomas tells ‘em like it is, too. I’ve heard a little bit of his conversations with Marty. I’m tellin’ ya he ain’t pullin’ any punches. It’s just super!” she exclaimed.
“I’m fairly certain my boy Samuel died a virgin,” she said solemnly. “He caught hold of Jesus at a young age and never let go. Now, Hank Jr. on the other hand, well, I think he kinda had his way with the ladies after he left home, but I know for a fact that he was right repentant about it in the end—even broken-hearted—when he re-committed his life to Jesus Christ before he lost his life. God uses both kinds, and it’s a good thing because a lot of us can’t measure up to someone else’s walk, and the Lord knows our weaknesses.”

Taken from Destination (2006; written by Nicole Petrino-Salter)